Washing machine supporting carriage



July 3, 1951 A. R. OBERWEGNER 2,559,028

WASHING MACHINE SUPPORTING CARRIAGE Filed March 51, 1947 z Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1951 A. El. QBERWEGNER WASHING MACHINE SUPPORTING CARRIAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 51, 1947 July 3, 1951 A. R. OBERVVEGNER WASHING MACHINE SUPPORTING CARRIAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 51, 1947 Patented July 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHING MACHINE SUPPORTING CARRIAGE My invention relates generally to supporting devices, and particularly to a supporter, holder, or jig adapted to support various objects, such as washing machines and similar appliances and equipment, to facilitate assembly and repair of their parts. Specifically, the invention pertains to a mobile supporting device in which a washing machine, or the like, may be held, and which is so constructed that it can be adjusted to different angular positions to locate the operating mechanism of the machine within convenient reach of the workman assembling, repairing, or servicing the machine.

When assembling, repairing, and servicing electrical appliances, such as domestic clothes washing machines, wherein the electric motor, driving mechanism, and Water pump are located beneath the tub or clothes receptacle of the machine, it is customary to turn the machine on its side or bottom side up in order to make it possible to work upon the operating parts. Due to the fact that no means has heretofore been provided for lifting and supporting the washing machines in such positions, it has been necessary to manually lift and turn the machines and rest them on their sides or bottom sides up on the floor, or upon a suitable Work-bench or table. Since such machines are relatively heavy and awkward to handle, the placing thereof in convenient positions is quite a laborious operation and requires considerable time and energy.

It is an object of my invention to obviate the difliculties encountered, when servicing and repairing domestic washing machines and similar equipment, by providing a holder or supporting device onto which the machine may be readily wheeled and clamped, and which may be adjusted to different angular positions to dispose the operating mechanism of the machine in convenient locations to facilitate Working thereon.

Another object is to provide a supporting device, of the character referred to, having a base or chassis and a frame or saddle onto which the washing machine may be wheeled and clamped, the frame being pivotally connected to the base to adapt it to be tilted to different angular positions for the purpose explained above.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated in which the base is provided with caster-wheels to adapt the machine to be moved to different locations, and it is a further object to provide readily operable means for locking the tiltable frame in its different positions of angular adjustment.

Another object is to provide a device of the character specified having a particularly simple, yet highly efficient, clamping means for retaining the washing machine on the pivoted frame, such means being quickly operated and incorporating fastening devices engageable with either the rim of the washing machine receptacle or the rim of its frame, so that washing machines in fully assembled or partly assembled condition may be supported.

Another object is to provide a supporting device which is relatively simple in construction, being composed of a minimum number of parts adapted for economical manufacture and assembly, and one which is strong and durable in use.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification, which describes a preferred embodiment thereof, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my supporting device;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device, as viewed in the opposite direction from Fig. l, illustrating the manner of supporting a complete domestic washing machine in substantially inverted position to facilitate working on its lowermost operating parts;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. '2, showing a partly disassembled washing machine mounted in the device, and illustrating the device as adjusted to a position to retain the machine on its side;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the clamping means, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 55 of Fig. 2, and showing the locking means.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my supporting device comprises a base iii, which includes a pair of side members H and E2 which are arranged in parallel relation throughout substantially one-half their length, the remaining portions diverging outwardly. The side members II and [2 are connected by means of tiebolts l3, and each has a caster-wheel M at each of its ends to adapt the device to be moved along a surface, such as a floor, in any direction. Welded, or otherwise secured, to the side mem bers II and I2, midway between their ends and projecting upwardly therefrom, are uprights or standards 15 and It, preferably constructed from channel-iron sections. At their upper ends, the standards 55 and i6 carry transverse pivot pins El and I8 for pivotally supporting a frame 20, to be next described.

transversely spaced elements 26, which are simi- Y lar but of shorter length than the element 25. The side member 2! has an apertured ear 28 for receiving the pivot pin it, while the side member 22 has a disc-like ear 29 for receiving the pivot pin [8. It is thus seen that the frame 20 is pivotally mounted on the standards l5 and It, so that it can be tilted from the substantially vertical position, shown in Fig. 1, to the inverted position, illustrated in Fig. 2, or to an intermediate position, as indicated in Fig. 3.

Secured to the side members 2| and 22, adjacent their upper and lower ends, are curved metal bands 31 and 32, respectively, each band carrying a resilient pad 33 at its ends. The bands and their pads form, in effect, curved rests against which the periphery of the tub of the washing machine is adapted to engage.

The washing machine is adapted to be clamped on the frame in a vertical direction by clamping means next described. Welded to the rear ward side of each band 3i and 32 are bearing blocks 35 and 35 (Fig. 4) in which a screw-shaft 31 and a guide-rod 38 are rotatable. The upper ends of the screw-shaft 31 and rod 38 project upwardly above the top of the frame and through a block 39, the rod being secured in place therein by a pin 40 while the screw-shaft 3'! is rotatable therein and carries a hand-wheel 45 at its upper projecting end. It is thus seen that by rotating the hand-wheel M and shaft 31 the latter is screwed upwardly or downwardly in the bearing block 36, depending upon the direction of such rotation, to raise and lower the block 39. Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, a bar 45 is slidable in a transverse hole in the block 39 and has a keyway 45 in which the inner end of a set-screw 46 is adapted to engage, to retain the bar in different positions of adjustment in the block. The bar 44 has a head 41 at its forward end, and fastened to the forward face of the head is a hook-like clamping element :38 having a resilient lining 69. The element 58 is adapted to engage over the rim of the tub of the washing machine, and, by screwing the block 39 downwardly, the element acts to force the entire washing machine downwardly to clamp it on the frame 20. Attached to the bottom of the head 41 by a screw 50 is a resilient tube 51' adapted to engage against the side of the washing machine tub. It is sometimes desirable to support a washing machine from which the tub has been removed (Fig. 3) and in this case a clamping element 55, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is utilized. The element 55 consists merely in a plate mounted on the rod 38 and adjustably secured thereon by a set-screw 56. The element normally is swung to the inoperative position, shown in Fig. 1, but may be pivoted forwardly into position to overlie the rim of the base of the washing machine when necessary. The clamping element 55 may have a resilient pad 51 on its lower surface.

The frame 20 is adapted to be tilted to any of the positions shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and

locking means are provided for retaining the frame in any of these positions. The locking means comprises a locking element or latch 60, which is arranged to slide vertically against the inner surface of the standard l6, as shown in Fig, 5, and has a bent upper end 6| 'which projects through an aperture 62 in the standard, and which is adapted to enter any one of three notches 63, 64, and 65, provided in the curved edge of the pivot ear 29 of the frame 20. The latch 50 is urged upwardly into locking engagement by a spring 66, but is adapted to be withdrawn from the locking position by the depression of a pedal 61 formed at its lower end.

The supporting device is operated in the following manner: Assuming that it is necessary to service or repair a conventional type of domestic washing machine, such as that shown at ii? in the present drawings, with the frame 29 of the device in the position shown in Fig. 1, the washing machine is tilted slightly and the ends of its legs H are placed in the element 25, or the elements 26, depending upon the size and type of washer to be supported. To clamp the washer iii on the frame 25, it is merely necessary to turn the hand-wheel in a direction to screw the shaft 3! downwardly to cause the hook id to engage over the rim of the tub 12 of the washer, shown in Fig. 4. In this manner, the washing machine is securely clamped on the tiltable frame 22' The side of the tub i2 rests against the pads 33 of the upper band 3|, it being noted that washers having depending sides would also contact the pads of the lower band 32.

To turn the washing machine if; bottom side up, the frame 25 is swung on its pivot pins i; and i 3 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. During this pivotal movement, the pedal 6? is depressed to withhold the latch 5| from the notches of the disc 29. Upon the frame 25 approaching the inverted position, shown in Fig. 2, the 6? is released to permit the latch El to be projected into the notch 65 whereby to retain the frame in this position. The washing machine ii] thus is positioned with its bottom side up, so that the workman can repair, replace, or service the operating parts, indicated at T3, and located beneath the tub i2. After working on the operating mechanism, the latch 6i is moved to inoperative position and the frame 2&3 returned to first position, the clamping hook 28 released, and the washing machine readily removed by lifting its legs H out of the holder 25. It will be noted that because the base It is mounted on caster-- wheels Hi, the supporting device may be moved to any location along a floor when empty or when supporting a washer.

When a washing machine, from which the tub has been removed, is to be supported in fine device, its caster-wheels are placed in the holder 25, after which the ends of a belt 15 carried by the sides of the frame 20 are brought around and fastened together, as shown in 3, to hold the washer in place. The washer is then clamped down by swinging the clamping element 5:; into position to cause it to overlie the rim of the base 16 of the washer, and the hand-wheel 4i is turned to depress the'clamping element. When it is desirable to tilt the washer to the inclined position, shown in Fig. 3, the latch ii! is per mitted to enter the notch 64 to maintain the frame in this position of adjustment. If the washer is to be supported with its axis arrange" horizontally, the latch 6| may be inserted in the notch 53. While the supporting device is herein shown as supporting a washing machine of con- 5 ventional type, it will be apparent that it may be used to hold Washers of other models. The device may be used, in plants where washers, and like appliances, are manufactured, as an assembly ig.

While I have herein shown and described the supporting device, as embodied in a preferred form of construction and applied to use in specific manner, it is to be understood that Various changes might be made in the structure thereof, and in the manner of applying it to use, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A device for supporting a domestic washing machine, or the like, in different positions, comprising: a base member; a frame pivoted on a horizontal axis on said base member to adapt it to be tilted to different positions of angular adjustment, said frame having a cradle against which the side of the machine is disposed, longitudinally spaced hearings on said frame, one of said bearings being internally screw-threaded; a shaft rotatable in said bearings and having screw threads engageable with the internal threads of said one bearing; a block carried by said shaft and in which said shaft is rotatable; a hand-wheel fast on said shaft; a rod secured to said block and slidable in said bearings to prevent rotation of said block; and a clamping member carried by said block and adapted to engage the rim of the tub of the machine, when the block is moved in one direction; and interengaging locking means on said base member and said frame for releasably locking said frame in its different angular positions.

2. A device for supporting a domestic washing machine, or the like, in different positions, comprising: a base member; a frame pivoted on a horizontal axis on said base member to adapt it to be tilted to different positions of angular adjustment, said frame having a cradle against which the side of the machine is disposed; 1ongitudinally spaced bearings on said frame, one

of said bearings being internally screw-threaded; a shaft rotatable in said bearings and having screw threads engageable with the internal threads of said one bearing; a block carried by said shaft and in which said shaft is rotatable; a hand-wheel fast on said shaft; a rod secured to said block and slidable in said hearings to prevent rotation of said block; and a clamping hook carried by said block and adapted to engage the rim of the tub of the machine, when the block is moved in one direction; a clamping element adjustably secured to said rod and adapted to engage the base of the machine to retain the machine in place on said frame; and interengaging locking means on said base member and said frame for releasably locking said frame in its different angular positions.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 in which said cradle, said clamping hook, and said clamping element are provided with resilient pads engageable with the washing machine, and including a resilient tube associated with said hook and engageable with the side of the tub below its flared rim.

ALFRED R. OBERWEGNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 135,593 Rykert Feb l, 1873 1,442,267 Gross Jan. 16, 1923 1,453,901 Anderson 1, 1923 1,465,945 Lea Aug. 23, 1923 1,495,477 Gammeter May 27, 1924 1,792,612 Staley Feb. 17, 1931 1,913,295 Schreck Juli (5P6, 1933 2,040,339 ROSS May 12, 1936 2,044,363 Morse et al June 16, 1936 2,346,649 Bilek Apr. 18, 1944 2,385,514 Hawkins Sept. 25, 1945 

